What: The stories in Guys and Dolls are so much more than the musical that took the collection's name. The stylistic dialogue of Damon Runyon's number-runners, chorus girls, gamblers, and hustlers might seem familiar, but you could be surprised at some of the situations they get themselves into.
Comparable to: Think of Runyon as P.G. Wodehouse for 1930s New York mobsters.
Representative quote: "If a guy keeps yessing a doll long enough, she is bound to figure him a bright guy, and worth looking into." (from "The Delegates at Large")
You might not like if it: You don't develop a liking for Runyon's distinctive vernacular.
How to get it: There are several different collections of Runyon's stories, including Guys and Dolls and Other Writings, The Damon Runyon Omnibus, Damon Runyon: Favorites, A Treasury of Damon Runyon, and Runyon on Broadway.
You're bound to run into one of them. Consider this recommendation applicable to all of them.
[Originally posted 2/12/11.]
No comments:
Post a Comment